Agree or Disagree: Okorocha begins payment of stipend to school children

[HerachioBlo]

From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha
Tuesday, November 01, 2011



Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, has commenced the payment of monthly stipend to primary and secondary schools students.
The payment takes off simultaneously in each of the 27 local government areas today November 1, 2011).

While primary school pupils receive N100, their secondary school counterparts will get N120. Also, primary school monitors will get N120, while prefects in the secondary schools will receive N150.

Addressing Journalists shortly after a meeting with Governor Okorocha, top government officials and stakeholders in the education sector in the state, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Prof. Fabian Osuji disclosed that committees had been set up in the 27 LGAs to visit all the schools for the purpose of making the payment.

Prof. Osuji added that the fund had been released for the October stipend, adding that the governor, his Deputy, Jude Agbaso and other top government officials would equally participate in the exercise to give pupils/students the sense of belonging they deserved from the government.

The special adviser stated that government would also kick start the policy implementation on education with the construction of 305 European standard schools in each electoral wards in the 27 local government areas of the state, adding that each of the schools would be centrally sited.He also disclosed that a committee had been set up by government to ascertain the actual data of students enrolled in the already existing schools in the state, as well as infrastructural facilities.

The governor’s aides further stated that a joint committee of SEMB, SUBEB and NUT would be chaired by a top government official appointed by the governor.

including the transition committee chairmen and Directors of Administration and General Services will be saddled with the responsibility of implementing the free education policy in the LGAs.

Prof. Osuji also disclosed that the committee is further charged with responsibilities of awarding construction contracts, payment of stipends and supervision of the school fencing project.

He however stated that teachers in the state would be promptly paid to cope with the challenges of implementing the new state policy on Education.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpage...2011-0012.html

[Nwaowerri]

Well I think it is a waste of time. It would seem the would spend more money trying to pay each student like when you get a check in the mail for 34 cents and you know that stamp cost 44 cents.
It would have been best if the paid the top students. A finacial reward for top 10 students in the class to motivate and help the families so we can produce students that can apply their talents into businesses and ideas to change the country.
Or as somebody else suggests an in-school lunch program for students.
Then again it might be a governments policy to hide the money and rob us blind.